Point Made

What's Up, Doc!  I'm sure it's nothing I said or did, but my primary physician has fled to the burbs. (Cedarburg) This burg and I share some history since it is where my latest wife graduated from high school. I attended her high school reunion with her. Located on a river with a prominent waterfall, this cozy outpost is home to a hotbed of big box retail, some manufacturing, lots of car dealerships and confusing borderlines with Thiensville and Mequon. Yet, it's not entirely a new suburb because it has a pleasant historic district and some fascinating history. For example, many years ago, it was a recording hub for black musicians who were not welcome in traditional recording companies. What it doesn't have is a bus service. Seeing I don't have a home to mortgage, I won't be taking an Uber out there. It's not in Milwaukee County, so neither of the senior ride services can ferry me. I switched to a more conveniently located clinic here on the lower east ...

 As it has been my recent habit, I open with pictures of my grand and great-grandchildren. I know that this is much like the proud grandparent who forces people to look at snapshots of his human legacy stored on his phone or, old school, wrinkled from his wallet. But like that grandparent, I don't care.  Save this one. Brixton could succeed in some capacity, and the feeling behind this challenging stare may contribute to that success. You will say you saw it here first. This might be the best father-son image since Kevin Kostner and Ray Liotta in Field of Dreams . This is my great grandson Brixton and his dad, A. J. Sieve. Perfect on the Pitch As I write this, the US Women's National Soccer is playing in Mexico at the CONCACAF Tournament. They have won every match and have allowed no goals scored against them. They have one more match against Canada. Canada is the reigning Olympic Gold Medal Champion. Score: US 1 Canada 0.  A penalty kick won the game in the 78th minute. ...

 We will discuss books in this missive, but first, let me shamelessly use my adorable grand and great-grandkids as clickbait to improve my analytics. Stepson, Ryan Schmidt & his boys, Brogan and Tate. The ultimate Mark Trail branch of the family. I think they hunt with every weapon except clubs. The twins, Ledger, Jonny and the kid most likely to win the best big brother award, Brixton Sieve. The All Saints Annual Booksale for Hunger. This year, I've again volunteered to help sort, categorize, and price used books donated to this decades-old tradition. Starting in June, we began arranging the donations for display and purchase. Beginning with the coveted "buy a chance to buy any book you want" night, to the madhouse "Make me an offer I can't refuse" closing day, we will raise thousands of dollars which are contributed to local kitchens that feed the poor and homeless. We made over twenty-five thousand dollars last year. For me, the fun is seeing books I...

 We have all been at this crossroads with the turn signal lever in hand and indecision on our minds. If you've jumped off the diving tour, you realize no one has filled the pool. Or maybe you are entertaining your brother-in-law in bed when your husband comes home to retrieve his passport for the overseas trip he is supposed to be taking that day. You get home, reach into your raincoat pocket and can't find your house key because you've taken the wrong coat off the coat rack at work. Have you ever looked for your car in a ten-floor parking structure and can't remember which floor you're parked on?  Short but hopefully sweet. Poppa Jeff from the shores of the inland sea. 😎

 Dawn of Summer The passing of mud season The sun is arriving earlier. It's staying later. The monsoon season has abated. Fireworks lull me to sleep at night. I can sleep without covers. The city is going to allow rental scooters. It must be summer. A recent effort, Oil Painting. I did this piece with oil.  (9 x 12) I painted it for my granddaughter, Violet. I modeled it from a photograph of her posing like this with that impossible knit sweater. Obviously, this is not a current likeness of Vi, but consider she might look like this when she is older. Did you brine your meats? I had a salad at the Knick last Wednesday. One ingredient was roast chicken chunks. I almost couldn't believe the chicken was so tasty and tender. Then it dawned on me. I had my waiter, Devon, ask the chef if he had brined the chicken. He confirmed he did. Brining meat is a way of tenderizing and adding flavor to meats. It works best with meat that is low fat, like poultry, pork, fish, and some cuts of be...

  Looking Back Oil Painting by Poppa Jeff ( Inspired by a work of Carol Rhode Curley ) I'm curious about how many people get this cartoon. It could stand alone even if you didn't recognize the historical movie reference. I know I'm posting a lot of stolen images instead of what my late friend, Whitney Gould, called my pithy prose. But damn it, that's what social media is asking for. At least, that is what I'm told.  As a father, I'm sure I'm not alone as I wait for the flood of emails, phone calls and airplane banners from my family on this Sunday's observance of Father's Day.  Then again, maybe not. I should be content to scroll through Ancestery.com, to see if any more offspring pop up. (This is where you are supposed to roll your eyes and chuckle.)

CatSip As promised, my rendition of Charlotte Evans stroll in a field of wildflowers.   Pain in the backside stuff. This has been my week to concentrate on stuff I should do but keep putting off because I've got plenty of time to get that stuff done, and I don't feel like it right now? The most onerous chore is the amount of work, not because of the subject matter. But, first, I should write and distribute my End of Life documents. The chore that will take a lot of work to prepare for and minutes to accomplish is cleaning the kitchen. After I move everything out of the kitchen that has to be moved, it will take less than fifteen minutes to clean the exposed surfaces, countertops, walls and floors. Another Graphic Interruption. Painting by Poppa Jeff Inspired by Carol Rhode Curley.  Oil on canvas board 9 x 12 New Season. Monday, May 31, is the first day of the one hundred and twenty possible days of good weather in Wisconsin. Note that the other days can be pleasant; however, t...